El Paso is no stranger to great athletics, from professional teams like the Chihuahuas, the Locomotives, to UTEP sports teams. Added to that list are fourteen athletes currently training in the Sun City through the Hanany Olympic Project.  

The Hanany Olympic Project team was founded by Olympian and UTEP Alumni Mickaël Hanany, who specialized in the high jump event. His personal best high jump was set in El Paso, Texas in 2014 at 2.34 meters. While being well decorated at the Olympics in 2012 and 2009 World Championships he is also a D1 NCAA Champion. Hanany never left the athletic field and turned his focus towards the direction of mentorship and coaching future Olympians through his project.  

The team includes Adrien (France), Sean (Jamaica), Loic (France), Christopher (France), and Fanny (France), who compete in the 400m. Guy (France) and Floraine (France), who compete in the 100m. Ryan (France), Mouhamadou (France), and Pablo (France), who compete in the 100m and 200m. Shakeem (Bahamas) and Malek (Algeria) who compete in the 400m Hurdles, Carlos (USA) who competes in long jump, and Nawal (France) who competes in high jump.  

Nawal Meniker, high jumper for the team, was born in Perpignan, France. Meniker says she started training at the age of twelve and specialized in high jump as a teenager, turning her passion to her profession.  

“It is a passion for me, and my childhood dream was always to take part in the Olympic Games,” Meniker said. “I always thought that it was a beautiful and elegant sport and wanted to be a part of something so feminine.”

She has accumulated a range of accolades during her time training and competing, including Youth Olympic vice-champion, European vice-champion and French champion, as well as finishing 12th in the world championships in 2023.   

Meniker shares that the team’s training has benefited from being in El Paso for several reasons, one of them being El Paso’s weather,  

“The weather is always fine, and the infrastructure is perfect,” Meniker said.  

Meniker says the weather is especially important as they are mostly training at outdoor fields at El Paso local high schools including Franklin, Chapin, and Andress High Schools, but they also have access to the Rise Performance weight room and hope to be able to train at the Sun Bowl in the future.

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Olympians train in El Paso to train under Coach Hanany as they prepare for qualifiers and Olympics. Gianluca Cuevas

Pablo Mateo, a short sprinter for the team, was born in Evry, the suburbs of Paris. Mateo says he started training at the age of thirteen, specialized in sprinting at fifteen, and has been a part of the French team since he was eighteen.  

Mateo holds titles such as Vice European champion of the 4x100m, bronze medal European Championship, medalist in the French Championship, and multiple time World Finalist with the 4x100m relay. 

Mateo shares that being away from family has also pushed them while training. 

“We move away from our families to realize our dreams and our goals, of which it strengthens us mentally and the mind, it’s 90% of one athlete.” Mateo said. 

Meniker adds another advantage they have is being coached and mentored by Hanany. Meniker says that as long as their coach continues to live here, these athletes will continue to train in El Paso.  

“I love El Paso. I love the mentality of the people here and the mix of American and Mexican culture. The weather’s nice, the people are cool,” Meniker said. “I am lucky enough to live with a wonderful Mexican American family, and they’ve introduced me to this culture. I am so grateful for that. Without them, I think my adventure in El Paso would be different.”  

She also shares some of her hopes and expectations, one of them being the 2024 Olympics. 

“I want to achieve all my goals; one of them having been making it to the Olympics. I’m really happy about that,” Meniker said. “Now, I want to continue on my path of living my professional athletic life and being the best version of myself. I also have been modeling outside of my athletic life and would love to continue to grow in that profession as well.”  

Meniker says, as for her team, they strive to break personal records, go to the Olympics together, and make their coach and families proud.  

Mateo shares his hopes for the team. 

“I hope that the whole team will be able to qualify individually for the Olympic Games and I wish everyone to be an actor in these Olympics and not spectators. For everyone to enter the final and give the best of themselves without having any regrets.” Mateo said.  

While these athletes are not from El Paso and the United States, they have come to El Paso in the hopes of training and improving heading into the Olympic season. Meniker encourages other athletes to come and discover the beautiful city of El Paso.  

The team is also open to partnerships from the local community that may be able to help them while they continue to train and live here. Meniker says the opportunity is also open to the local community to watch them train and support them as they continue their journey to the Olympics. 

 Ximena Cordero is a staff reporter and may be reached at [email protected]